Holding device



April 22, 1969 M. A. PETKO ET AL HOLDING DEVICE Filed May 9, 1967 INVENTOR. MICHAEL HPETKO THEODORE G.BURGER ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 66-14 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A positioning bracket for setting and maintaining the lifting lever pivot rod of a jacquard needle selecting mechanism in fixed location at the spacer ring. The bracket functions as two spacer blades as well as a rod holder.

Background of the invention This invention pertains to the mechanism for selecting knitting instrumentalities such as the needles of an independent needle knitting machine and more particularly for positioning and holding the pivotal rod on which are supported the lifting levers which actuate individual needles as selected.

In knitting machines such as the circular jacquard type disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,012,423, selection of individual needles is made by periodically advancing endless patterns to act upon a series of levers which are disposed in coacting pairs. Each pair of levers is so positioned as to raise the sliding instrumentalities together with the needle to positions where selected cam paths will cause the needle to perform the desired function. The selecting lever is supported in contact with the pattern device, as is thoroughly explained in the above patent, and in a position to actuate a lifting lever. A round rod acts as a fulcrum for all of the lifting levers on which they are pivotally mounted with the actuating end of each extending beneath the particular sliding jack it serves. The pivotal rod is fastened and supported on a spacer ring having upwardly directed comb-like blades :between which the lifting levers may pivot.

Problems have arisen in maintaining this pivotal rod in an accurately set position due to space limitations in avoiding interference with the selecting levers. The clamps for holding the pivotal rod as shown in the above patent permit lateral movement thus making settings for proper alignment and hold-down location difiicult during operation.

Summary This invention provides a positive clamping bracket for a lifting lever pivot rod in a knitting machine where groups of needles are independently controlled by selection to perform any of a number of knitting functions. The clamping bracket will permit better alignment of the spacer blades and will restrain the pivot rod in an accurate location during machine operation.

It is a general object of the invention to devise a pivot rod clamp which shall encircle the rod and hold it in a set position relative to the spacer ring blades.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a rod clamp which shall be rigidly fastened to the spacer ring and function as a pair of spacer blades.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as further details are disclosed.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will be described by reference to a specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

3,439,512 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 FIG. 1 is a section taken through a part of a double cylinder knitting machine in which the invention has been applied;

FIG. 2 is an enlargement of the invention as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of that shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a section showing a different type of machine to which the invention could be applied.

Now referring to the drawings, the invention applies to nearly all independent needle knitting machines Where a variety of knitting functions are performed in accordance with a prepared pattern. Shown here is a double cylinder machine whose characteristics are well known in the art. A lower cylinder 20 is slotted to form a needle bed for a series of double-ended needles 21 which are selectively controlled from below by sliders 22 and jacks 23. The jacks 23 have lifter butts 24 and 25 extending outwardly from the cylinder 20 which may be contacted by means to be explained to slide the needles 21 up to an activating height. A cam cylinder, generally designated 26, is rotated by gearing (not shown) for the purpose of translating the sliders 22, jacks 23 and their needles 21 vertically for performing a variety of selected knitting functions. As the range of possible choices is clearly explained in the above mentioned U.S. patent, it is not repeated here.

Selecting means of the jacquard type, generally designated 27, is supported upon an extending ring or bracket 28 of which there may be as many segments as there are separate pattern units per machine. A selecting unit such as that shown in US. Patent No. 2,281,721 may include, among other parts, pivoted selecting levers 29 which bear upon bar 30, and when selected, may be pushed radially inwardly to the path of a selecting cam 31. The lever 29 rests upon one end 32 of a lifting lever 33 which is pivotally supported upon a pivot rod 34 so that, as the cam 31 presses the lever 29 and end 32 downwardly, the levers will take the positions shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. A guide member 35 extends up to 36 and is constituted as a reed or slotted means by which the ends of the levers are maintained in alignment and restrained to a vertical path. The inner end 37 of the lifting lever 33 is guided in the needle and jack slots of the cylinder 20 and is adapted to contact and raise butt 24 and subsequently butt 25 for the purposes explained in Patent No. 3,012,423. In FIG. 4 a diflerent type machine is shown with a single cylinder 20 carrying a needle 21 which is movable directly by a jack 23'. The Ibutts 24 and 25' are in position for contact by the lever end 37'.

Fixed to the bracket 28 and encircling the cylinder 20 is a spacer ring 38 having a series of fins 39 rigidly secured thereto in spaced relationship for maintaining the levers 33 in vertical alignment. The pivot rod 3-4 rests upon the fins 39 in a recess as shown in FIG. 2. In previously known devices difficulty was experienced in securing the pivot rod in this position against lateral movement during operation. The instant invention provides a bracket by which the pivot rod is encircled and thus locked into position by a drawing-down force against the fins 39. The bracket comprises a pair of upwardly extending blades 40 and 41 each having an identical coinciding aperture 42 through which the pivot rod 34 may be threaded. The blades 40 and 411 have a downwardly extending adjusting arm 43-, threaded to receive a nut 44 after it is positioned vertically through the spacer ring 38. The blades 40 and 41 stand among the fins 39 and in effect replace two fins and serve in their stead in maintaining one lever 33 vertically. The pivot rod 34 is easily removed by releasing the nut 44. 'With the vertical tensioning provided by the threaded arm 43 and the encirclement by the blades 40 and 41, the pivot rod 34 is secured against movement in any direction and the pivoting movement of the lever 33 becomes more positive.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In an independent needle knitting machine having a needle bed, needles carried by and movable in said bed, a sliding means carried in said bed for each one of said needles, lifting means effective upon each said sliding means for raising its respective needle to at least one activating position, selecting means for actuating said lifting means in a prearranged pattern, said lifting means comprising:

(a) a lever movable upwardly beneath each said sliding means,

(b) a spacer member for retaining said levers in spaced separation,

(c) a pivot rod held upon said spacer member for pivotally supporting said levers, and

(d) a bracket member completely encircling said pivot rod for locking said pivot rod in a position relative to said spacer member, said bracket member including an upwardly extending blade having an aperture therethrough to receive said pivot rod in encircling engagement.

2. Mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bracket member is removably fastened to said spacer member and includes means for vertical adjustment therewith.

3. Mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pair of blades stand in mutual separation an extent sufiicient to pivot one said lever therebetween, a plurality of spaced fins secured to said spacer member, said pair of blades thereby replacing two of said plurality of fins.

4. Mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said bracket member further includes a threaded adjusting arm extending vertically through said spacer member for drawing said pivot rod into close contact with said fins.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,858,469 5/1932 Sumay 66-20 1,933,542 11/1933 Albertman et a1. 66-25 2,281,721 5/ 1942 Sumay 66-50 2,696,092 12/1954 Miller 66-154 XR 2,786,343 3/1957 Clauser 66-154 XR 3,024,631 3/1962 Wiesinger 66-14 3,141,314 7/1964 Lyster 66-50 RONALD FELDBAUM, Primary Examiner. 

